Bread wrapping machine



Aug. 22, 1944. c. ARELT BREAD WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Nov. 27, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet. l

INVENTOR CHARLES ARE LT ATTORNEY Aug. 22, 1944.

c. ARELT 2,356,644

BREAD WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Nov. 27, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 CHARLES ARELT ATTORNEY Aug. 22, 1944. c. ARELT BREAD WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Nov. 27, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR 10 CHARLES ARELT BY I M70 V 'ATTQRNEY Aug. 22, 1944. c. ARELT BREAD WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Nov. 27 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR CHARLES ARE LT BY I ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 22, 1944 I BREAD WRAPPING MACHINE Charles Arelt, Richmond Hill, N. Y., assignor to I 4 American Machine & Foundry (Jompany, a corporation of New Jersey Application November 27, 1941, Serial No. 420,636

15 Claims. (Cl. 93-2) This invention relates to wrapping machines,

more particularly to improvements in the feeding of wrapping'material from a roll, and improved means for preventing the wrapping material from slipping back in a machine where the material is intermittently fed.

One of the difliculties in wrapping such articles as bread loaves has been the fact that the loaf is frequently distorted when the paper is being placed about the loaf due to the fact that the paper offers too much resistance to being set in motion. This is particularly true where very soft bread and easily deformable articles are being wrapped and the bread loaf is used for drawing off a quantity of paper suflicient to form a wrapper.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved feed which .will cause a minimum of stress to be placed upon a loaf which is being used to draw all a quantity of wrapping material sufilcient to form a wrapper.

It is also an object to provide an improved clamp for the wrapping material which will prevent the paper from slipping back in the machine during predetermined stoppages in the wrapper feeding cycle, and which will not have any tendency to jam or to present any resistance to the paper being set into motion again.

It is also an object to provide an improved mechanism for drawing oil free paper from a roll in a quantity which will be suificient to wrap' an article and which will not have any mechanism in contact with, or load on, the free paper when it is being drawn oil? by the article to bewrapped.

A further object is to provide a feed which will keep the reel at a substantially constant and uniform speed of rotation.

Another object is to provide an improved positiv means for drawing off paper from the roll of wrapping material.

An additional object is to provide means whereby a length of paper will be fed, varying automatically in accordance with the quantity of wrapping material needed.

A further object is to provide a feed which will commence feeding paper immediately and positively into the freeweb of paper as soon as the article to be wrapped begins to take its supply therefrom.

Another object is to provide a feed which will feed positively all of the paper necessary for the article being wrapped regardless of a variation over and under the standard length for which the feed is set, and which will compensate in drawings, in which:

each cycle for any such variation so as to enable each wrapping cycle to. start with a free web of paper. 1

Other objects and features of the invention will appear as the description of the particular physical embodiments selected to illustrate the invention progresses.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, likeharacters of reference have been applied to corresponding parts throughout the several views which make up the Fig. 1 is a sid elevation of the web feeding mechanism of the bread wrapping machine.

Fig. 2 is a sectional end elevation of the same.

Figs. 3 and 4 are detailed side elevations illustrating the action of the pressure roller of the feeding-mechanism.

Figs. 5 to 8 are schematic side elevations illusscribed.

The wrapping material in the form of a web W (Fig. 1) is fed from a reel R between a pressure roller l0 and a constantly driven feed roller ll,

and then led over a guide roller I? around aloop roller l3 and over another guide roller I 4 onto a guide plate I5. -The feed roller II is preferably driven by means of a conventional variable speed drive (not shown). From the guide plate I5 said web passes in between another pair of guide rollers I6 and l 1 (Figures 1, 5-8), and the end of said web hangs vertically over the edge of an inclined runway l8, over which the loaves P are 4 fed into the wrapping machine by means of pusher plates l9 protruding through a slot 20 of runway l8 and attached to an intermittently moving conveyor chain 2|. v While the bottom of the loaf is supported by said inclined runway l8,

one ide of the loaf slides along a guide plate 22 adjustably mounted to lugs 23 of runway l8. Guide plate '22 is provided with a suitable cutout (not shown), through which a reciprocating pusher plate 24 pushes the loaf from the runway l8 onto an oscillating lifter table 25 in the direction of the arrow indicated in 'Fig. 1; thus starting the wrapping process.

The paper web W in this invention is not pulled off the reel bymeans of the loaf, but by the novel the demand for paper is drawn by the loaf to be wrapped by means tial slippage takes place reel or roll of wrapping material R rotating, first slowly and then more rapidly, until the pressure registry; while in and is loosely mounted on a horizontal shaft 21,

each end of which is mounted in an eccentric bearing 28 of an arm 2!. Arms 2! are loosely and I swingably mounted on a horizontal shaft lll supported by the main frame ii of the wrapping machine. Near each end of the shaft 21, between the ends of roller HI and bearings 2! is clamped an arm 32, the two of which on their lower ends support loop roller l3, while from the upper end of each arm 32 projects a rod 33 carrying an adjustably mounted counterweight It provided for the purpose of balancing the weight of the loop roller l3 supported by arms 32. The hub 35, by means of which each bearing arm 29 is fulcrumed to shaft 10, is provided with a projecting stud 3' to which is attached a tension spring 31 anchoredto a conveniently located stationary stud or rod 38 of the machine (Fig. l). Tension springs 31 are provided for the purpose of keeping the pressure roller II in the desired position with relation to the feed roller II and at the same time assuring a free and floating support of the former. In order to check the forward-most position, as well as to provide means for moving the pressure roller ll away from the feed roller II for the purpose of threading the paper web W,

' an eccentrical disk It engages with a contact surface 39 of each arm 2|. The two disks 3. are so mounted on a shaft ll which is supported by bearings of hand lever 4| (Fig. 2) 'by means of which shaft ll and disks II can be operated.

' The feed roller II is mounted on a shaft 42 Y which is constantly driven by a pulley 43 (Fig. 2), which through a belt 44 is connected to a variable speed drive II, which in turn, by means of a shaft 4, is driven from the main drive of the wrapping machine.

Inorder to achieve the main object of this invention, that is, to assure a "free paper feed and to release the loaf from the strain of pulling the paper of! the 'reel during the wrapping process, a ree" web of paper is created from which of lifting the, loop roller l3 from the paper loop L (Fig.

upward and away due to the eccentric bearings 1), which in turn.

28', causes pressure roller ll to come in contact 5 gradually with feed roller H and thereby start feeding paper from the reel R. .'is a result, when the machine is started a certain amount of iniwhich tends to set the roller Ill and feeding roller I l are in close feeding position. The web W will then be fed at a constant rate of speed from the roll B.

This structure is somewhat similar to that shown in my former Pate nt No. 2,208,504, but differs in'operation in that in the present machine the paper is pulled off intermittently and not continuously as in a cigarette machine. The present structure also prior patent, the problem is one of alignment and the present case, it is the providing of a feed which will form intermittently free loops of paperto avoid placing undesir- 7o able strains uponsoft loaves of bread used to measure and pull off the desired quantity of w ppin material.

The lifting of loop roller 13 and arms 32 is done by an operating lever l'L carrying on its free end the main frame ii and carries a diifers in purpose and re- 5 suit from the aforementioned patent. In the shaft as held by the main frame 3|.

p a roller 0, which contacts an operating lug ll on one of the arms 32. Operating lever 41 is loosely mounted on a shaft and is provided with a cam lever II which, by means of a roller I2, is actuated by a cam 53 secured to a shaft 54 supported by bearings of the main frame ll.

Shaft 54 is driven by means of a hub 55 carrying a lug it which engages with a pawl 51 pivoted to a sprocket 58 loosely mounted on shaft 54. Sprocket I8 is constantly driven by means of a chain 59 from the main drive of the machine (not shown). The paper feed of course is intermittent and in relation with the intermittent arrival of the loaves P to be wrapped. In order to prevent any waste of paper or clogging of the machine in case of a missing loaf, the runway II is provided with a no-bread-no-paper device. The latter consists of a feeler finger 60 (Fig. 1)

protruding through a slot in runway II and mounted on a shaft Ii supported by a pair of bearing brackets 82. To shaft 6| is secured a lever 63 which, through a rod 64. is connected with a stud 8! of a throw-out arm 86 pivoted to a stud 61 held by the main frame II. To the end of arm 68 is pivoted a roller which, when feeler finger I0 is not held down by a loaf in runway I8, projects in the path of the projecting free end of pawl Il rotating with sprocket 58. When pawl 51 contacts the roller 88, the former of course is knocked out of engagement with lug I, thus stopping the rotation of shaft 54 and arms 32 are not lifted and therefore pressure roller I. is not brought in contact with feed roller H and no paper is fed. A tensionspring '9 (Fig. l) assures a reengagement of pawl 51 and lug ll, provided a loaf has arrived in the meantime and feeler finger 6| 'is pressed down and roller ll moved out of the path of the projecting end oflink 14, pivoted to an operating lug l5. adjustably attached to said rods ll. Pusher arm- 13 is pivoted on a shaft or stud 16 and is provided with an operating lever 11- which. through an adjust able rod I8, is connected to an arm I9 mounted on a shaft 80. The'latter is actuated by a cent lever ll carrying a cam roller 82 engaging with a cam 83 mounted on (the main cam shaft 8 driven from the main drive of the machine.

In order toprevent any lost motion and assure .the shortest possible stroke when wrapping loaves of diflerent sizes, arm I!- is provided with a slot 85 in which the corresponding end of connecting rod "can be set to lengthen or shorten the stroke of pusher plate 24 and rods III. This adjustment is furthermore so arranged and designed that no matter how short or long the stroke is, the pusher plate on its forward stroke will always stop in the same position (indicated by F in the dotted position shownin Fig. 1). Thus. no matter how wide the loaf is, the edge of the same after being pushed onto the lifter table 2! will always be evenwith the edge'of the lifter table (Fig. 6). To assure constant contact of cam roller 82 with cam 83, a tension spring 25 (Fig. 1) is loosely supported by a horizontal Said table is oscillated by a cam lever 38 connected to the for 81 is provided. The lifter table.

mer by means of by bring the pressure roller once to feed additional tal and in line with a from which the is brought mounted on a directions.

rollers I2 and I4. As soon as the loop roller is lifted by means of arms 92, the latter, due to the eccentric bearings 29, turn the shaft 21 I9 in contact with the constantly rotating feed roller I I, gripping the web W between them and causing the feeding of the paper from the reel R.

It will be noted that if I erly timed and is not lifted quickly enough, the

I 3, by the action of arm 41 and .roller 49, islifted of! the bottom of the loop L of the paper web which is formed between guide and therethe loop roller is improppaper will engage with the roller and lift it, thereby setting the feedingrollers into operation at paper positively without waiting for the action of roller 49 against cam is. This feature has'the advantage that it decreases the tendency to tear the paper by a quick tug or deform the loaf because additional paper is fed out before the loaf directlyvfrom the roll case. v

As pusherplate 24 continues to Push the loaf against the paper web and onto the lifter table 25, said loaf draws its paper from the created "free web and it continues to do so while being lifted by the lifter table to a position horizondelivery table 92. loop roller I9 and arms 92 are then in their uppermost position, and the pressure roller bearing now tightly against the constantly driven feed roller commences pulling paper R, as was previously-the of course,

causes the web material to be accurately and positively fed from always be "free the roll R so that there will loaf can draw. In other words, the loaf does not have to pull paper directly from the roll R, the resistanceof which would tend to distort the article being wrapped. This is particularly true where a soft loaf of bread is being wrapped.

As the lifter table 25 starts'to lift the loaf to be wrapped, a lap roller 99 mounted on a pair of arms 94 starts to move downwardly and finally brings down and covers the remaining open side of the loaf with a V .the loaf is lifted to the horizontal position hereto- 7 fore mentioned (Fig. 7), a pair-of intermittently portion of the paper web W. After moving pusher fingers 95 push the now wrapped loaf from the lifter table25 onto the delivery table 92 (Fig. 8), vertical portion of the web W at a predetermined point and the lap roller 99 moves down a little further to assure that the cut end of the web down over the edge of the runway I9 (shown in with the next loaf to be wrapped. The lifter table 25 then moves downwardly and the lap roller-99 moves upwardly again to their original or start-- ing positions. Arms '94 carrying lap roller 99 are shaft 91 which is supported by bearing of main frame 3|. The centers of said shaft and shaft 96, to which table 29 is fulcrumed, are'so arranged that roller 99 and table.

25 are able upward or to pass'each other when they move downward, respectively, in opposite The are of the table as well as the and an advancing knife ilicuts the' paper or web material available tion of a soft loaf on this account l'stherebyv one described ofthe roller are indicated in dotand-dash lines in Fig. 1. This unique arrangement eliminates a gap closer which was heretofore necessary when the same point of fulcrum was used for both the lifter table and the lap roller.

well as the cam lever 99 operating the lifter table.

is pivoted to a shaft I92 held by the main frame 9|. Both cam levers 99 and 99 are of course provided with tension springs I99 and I94 respectively.

In order to prevent shifting of the paper web W during the cutting operation of knife 99, a clamping arm I95 carrying a rubber bar I99 is provided and clamps said web onto guide plate I during cutting action. Arm I95 is mounted to a shaft I9'I (Fig. 1) which is actuated bya lever I99 connected by means ofan adjustable-rod I99 to a cam lever lloloosely supported by shaft 59 (Figs. 1 and 2) Cam lever II9. carries a cam roller III which engages in 'a cam track II2 of cam 59.

To prevent any W, the machine is furthermore equipped with a unique pair of floating paper stops which consist of a pair of arms I 4 held by the main frame 9|. Said arms I I9 at their'free ends are provided'with rounded rubber cushions II! which freely rest W over the guide roller I4 and contact said web and roller at an angle which permits the web to pass freely in its forward-movement, but the the same will the rounded When the paper is loaf P, the paper is immediately free and no additional force is re- 1 quired to overcome the stopping force applied by thestopII9.

Heretofore, a clamp was used in connection with a fixed support to stop paper from having a retrograde movement. paper to be jammed between the-clamp and the fixed support, thereby requiring a strong starting pull which frequently deformed in releasing the paper from the clamp. Inthe present clamp, no additional tug is required to restart the paper moving and deformaavoided. This desirable result is believed due to the fact that applicant has substituted 9. movablesupportisuch as roller I4) for the fixed support heretoforeused.

dotted lines, Fig. 8) ready to engage When the paper Is pulled'in the right direction, the clamp arm- I I9 'will be lifted vaway from thepaper and the roller I4 will rotatein the direction the paper is traveling, thereby immediately releasing the paper. Other movable surfaces beside the roller, coacting with am like results to efie on the paper.

In conclusion itshould demand has been knife 99 cuts the paper web W, the loop roller l9 descends to its lowermost position and in so doing pulls off a predetermined quantity of free paper for the next be noted that by alternating the positive feeding 9, could also be used with a toggle like clamping action and the loopzforming roller I9, it is possible to back sliding of the paper web II9 loosely mounted on ashaft on the paper web I This always caused the 9 caused the loaf to be such as a second clamparm.

be said that after t e satisfied and as'soon as the cycle of operation. It will bythe rollers I9 and II.

' pusher plates.

-is not-to be restricted ranged that guide plate 22 can be set to suit any loaf without interference or re-setting of said The invention above described may be varied in construction within the scope of the claims, for the-particular device selected to illustrate the invention is but one Of many possible concrete embodiments of the same. The invention therefore the structure shown and described.

Whatis claimed is: 1. In a wrapping machine of the type which uses a continuous roll of wrapping material, a feed which comprises a continuously driven'feeding roller, an opposed roller constructed and arranged to engage with said continuously driven roller to feed paper therebetween, a movable mounting for said opposed roller for moving said opposed roller toward and away from said continuously to the precise details of driven roller, a loop former for forming a loop in said paper, positively actuated means for actuating said loop former at predetermined intervals to place it in and out of engagement with said loop, and connections between said loop former and said mounting to intermittently impart actuatr ing movement to said mounting from said loop former to move said rollers toward each other during each feeding cycle to effect the feed of paper therebetween and to move said rollers apart when paper is being drawn off into a loop by said loop former.

2. In a wrapping machine using continuous sheet material taken from a roll for wrapping individual articles, a feeding device comprising spaced opposed rotating movable'feeding rollers for feeding said sheet material between said rollers, a continuous drive for one of said rollers,.

a movable support for the other of said rollers,

a loop forming roller for engaging and forming a loop inv said paper, a support for said loop forming roller, means for actuating said loop forming roller support cyclically to place said roller in and out of engagement with said sheet material, and means intermittently actuated,by the support for said loop forming roller for bringing said feeding rollers together to feed said sheet material.

' 3. In a, wrapping machine using continuous sheet material taken from a roll, a feeding mech anism comprising a pair of relatively movable feed rollers, a loop former for drawing an excess amount of sheet material from said roll to form a loop, means mounting said former to engage sheet material advancing from said rollers, means for drawing of! said loop in wrapping an article, means for raising said loop former out of contact with said loop as said loop is drawn off, and means for actuating said feed rollers while said loop former is positioned out of contact with said loop for positively feeding additional sheet material as. the excess material making up said loop is drawn off in the process of wrapping an article.

' second shaft .material, and means for 4. In a wrapping machine using continuous sheet material taken from a 'roll for wrapping articles individually in each -machine cycle a feeding device through which the sheet material passes comprising apair 0f pivoted lever arms, a roller mounted for rotation in an eccentric connected to one end of each of said arms,

a continuously driven roller positioned opposite to said eccentrically mounted roller, and operating means for bringing said eccentrically mounted roller into engagement with said driving roller at predetermined intervals in each machine cycle to positively feed paper from said roll.

5. In a wrapping machine using continuous sheet material taken from a roll, a feeding device through which the sheet material passes comprising a pair of pivoted lever arms, a roller mounted for rotation in an eccentric connected to one end of each of said arms, a continuously driven roller positioned opposite to-said eccentrically mounted roller, a loop forming device coacting with said rollers for drawing on a predetermined quantity of free sheet material from said roll, and positively actuated means for moving said device out of engagement with said sheet material at intervals in the machine cycle'when the material making up said loop is drawn off in wrapping an article.

6. In a wrapping machine using continuous sheetmaterial taken from a roll, a feeding device for removing paper from said roll comprising a driven shaft, a driving roller mounted on said shaft, a second shaft positioned opposite to said driving roller, spaced apart rotatable members for supporting said shaft at each end, said being eccentrically mounted in said members, a pair of loop arms fixedly connected at one end to each of said rotatable members, av

loop roller carried by the other end of each of said arms for forming a loop in the wrapping actuating said loop forming arms in each feeding cycle to lift the loop roller free from the loop in the wrapping material and to rotate said rotatable members to bring said rollers closer together to feed sheet material therebetween.

7. In awrapping machine for wrapping individual articles separately in each machine cycle, a feeding device comprising a pair of oppositely disposed relatively movable feeding rollers, means for bringing said rollers into engagement with one another to feed paper positively therebetween from a continuous roll, a device for drawing of! a loop of free paper, positively actuated means mounting said device for drawing off said loop of paper at predetermined intervals when said rollers are separated, and means determining the period in each machine cycle which said device operates.

8. In a wrapping machine, a feeding device comprising a pair of oppositely disposed relatively movable paper feeding rollers, a gravity operated loop former, means mounting said former to form a loop in paper fed by said rollers, positively actuated means for raising said loop former out of contact with said paper each time paper is drawn off in wrapping an article, and means for allowing said loop former to engage with said between said rolls to move in one direction only, a loopformer disposed between said feed rollers and said c1amp.device for forming a loop in said wrapping material when paper is not called for by the wrapping machine, and positively actuated means for lifting said loop former out of contact with said loop when paper is called for by the wrapping machine.

10. In a wrapping machine, a feeding mechanism comprising a pair of relatively movable oppositely disposed .feeding rollers for drawing wrapping material from a roll, aclamp device cooperating with an oppositely disposed movable member for allowing wrapping material passing between said rolls to move only in one direction,

a loop former disposed between said feed rollers and said clamp device for forming a, loop in said wrapping material each time paper is not being called for by the machine, positivelyactuated means coacting with said tfeeding rollers for lift-' ing said loop' former out of contact with said loop when paper is called for by thewrapping machine, and connections between said loop former and said feeding rollers for causing said feeding rollers to positively feed paper at predetermined intervals. Y

I 2,350,644 member for allowing wrapping material passing plied to the article,

of contact with said loop when paper is' being used by the machine in wrapping an article, a conveyor for moving the article to be wrapped .against said length of wrapper to partially encircle said article with said wrapper, and means for supporting said free length of wrapper for free movement with said article during the operation of said conveyor.

14. In a machine of the type using an article for measuring the length or wrapper to be apsaid machine having a support for a roll of continuous wrapping material,

11. In a wrapping machine, a feeding mechanism comprisinga pair of relatively'movable oppositely disposed feeding rollers for drawing wrapping material from a roll, a clamp device cooperating with an oppositely disposed. movable member for allowing wrapping material passing between said rolls to move only in one direction,

Y a loop former disposed between said feed rollers and said clamp device for forming a loop in said wrapping material each time paper is not being called for by the machine, positively actuated means coacting with said feeding rollers for lifting said loop former out of contact with said loop when paper is called for by the wrapping machine, and connections .between said loop former and said feeding rollers for bringing said rollers into positive feeding relationship each time paper is being called for and said loop former is raised out of contact with said paper.-

12. A wrapping machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least one of said feeding rollers is covered with a covering which does not accumulate wax such as rubber. 13. In a wrapping machine for wrapping individual articles wherein the article to be wrapped is usedfor measuring and drawing off a length of wrapper material to be applied to the article to be wrapped, a web feeding mechanism for feeding a free length of Web sufiicient to provide a wrapper into the path of an article to be wrapped,

' comprising a loop former forjforming a free loop of paper, means for raising said loop former out an article infeed conveyor, an article lifter table,

and conveying means for moving articles fromsaid conveyor onto said table; from said roll a' free quantity cient to form a wrapper, free end of said quantity a feed for feeding of material suflimeans for draping the of material in the path of movement of an article from said conveyor to said table for free movement when engaged by said'article, means for operating said conveying means for propelling said means for'encircling said article in said material prior to cutting the measuredlength of wrapincluding an intermittently operated feed roller couple, and a loop roller engaging a portion of the material fed by said feedroller couple, means for draping the free end of said quantity of said material in the path of movement of said article from said conveyor to said table for free movement with said article when engaged thereby,

means for operating saidsecond conveyor for propelling said article from saidinfeed conveyor againstsaid draped end-of said material to partially wrap said article while maintaining said article free from distortion by said material,

means for releasing said looper roller from engagement with said material during the movement of said article and said material, and means for completing the encirclement of said article in said material prior to cutting the measured length of material from said roll of continuous wrapping material.

. CHARLES ARELT.

article from said con 'veyor against said draped end of said material to v partially wrap said article while maintaining said article free from distortion by said material, and V 

